Things to Do

Meta

As you can imagine, we are all about history here at the Mansion. We just love how the Byrd Theatre melts the old with new, which we can relate to since we do the very same thing here!

The Historic Byrd Theatre was built in 1928, and is a State and National Historic landmark. The Theatre is truly an architectural treasure, and since it has changed very little since 1928, it is truly like taking a step back in time, as it features paintings, marbled walls, gold leaf arches and a gorgeous mezzanine. Some of their seats, in fact, have their original mohair pattern.

If you happen to be catching a movie on a Saturday evening be sure to be in your seat on time because you will get an amazing treat of hearing the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, an original staple. The organ was originally used to accompany silent movies. A real treat is that the current House organist Bob Gulledge was the student of Eddie Weavers, the Byrd’s most famous organist, who played from 1961-1981.

Although it has been nearly eighty-two years after its original opening, it still runs just like it did when it first came onto the Richmond scene. Every evening, the Theatre opens for showings of second run movies for just a mere $1.99 a person. Which we here at the Mansion were ecstatic to hear about because it’s a show and a history lesson all wrapped into one. We just could not pass it up and we hope you do not pass it up either!

So the next time you’re visiting Richmond, be sure to make time for this historical treasure.

Paula and Martin Ramirez are the proprietors of Historic Mankin Mansion, a wedding resort and bed and breakfast just minutes from Downtown Richmond. They enjoy new restaurant finds, Virginia wines and discovering fun events and activities throughout the area for their guests.